Messier 100

April 13, 1781. 100.
12h 11m 57s (182d 59m 19s) +16d 59' 21"
Nebula without star, of the same light as the preceding
[M99], situated in the ear of Virgo. Seen by M.
Méchain on March 15, 1781. The three nebulae, nos.
98, 99 & 100, are very difficult to
recognize, because of the faintness of their light:
one can observe them only in good weather, & near their passage of the
Meridian.

[PT 1814, p. 248-284, here p. , reprinted in
Scientific Papers Vol. II, p. 528]
Connoiss. 100 is "A nebula of about 10' in diameter, but there is in the
middle of it, a small, bright cluster of supposed stars."

CCCCXLV. 100 M. Virginis [now Comae Berenices].
AR 12h 14m 52s, Dec N 16d 42'.6
Mean Epoch of Observation: 1837.21 [Mar 1837]
A round nebula, pearly white, off the upper part of the Virgin's left wing,
and certainly at a great distance from Virgo's ear of corn, where the
Connaissance des Temps places it [actually Messier's position is
quite close]: indeed, the true site will be hit upon just one-fifth the way
from Beta Leonis towards Arcturus. This is a large but pale objects, of
little character, though it brightens from its attenuated edgestowards the
centre; and is therefore proved to be globular. It was discovered by M.
Méchain in 1781, and is accompanied by four small stars, at a little
distance around it; besides minute points of light in the field, seen by
occasional gleams.
We are now in the broad grand stratum of nebulae, which lies in a direction
almost perpendicular to the Galaxy [Milky Way], and passes from the south,
through Virgo, Berenices Hair, Canes Venatici, and te Great Bear, to the
Pole, and beyond. This glorious but mysterious zone of diffused spots, is an
indisputable memorial to all future times, of the unwearied industry and
indomitable scientific energy of Sir William Herschel. Yet has this
unrivalled contributor to knowledge been disparagingly described, as a man
indulging in "speculations of no great value to astronomy, rather than engage
in computations by which the science can really be benifited." Save the mark!
This is said of a philosopher of zeal and application hitherto unequalled:
one whose contributions to the Philosophical Transactions prove the
bold but circumspect grandeur of his conceptions, his consummate mechanical
resources, and the exactness of his elaborate calculations. Herschel's
labour, however, transcended those of the ages in which he was cast, although
he gave such animation and bias to siderial astronomy that his mantle was
caught at.